One Reviews good enough for me. And so the story slowly begins.
Tanabata - July 7
"Come on, Soma. Pleeeasee..." Nami cooed at Soma. Wiggling a little as she held her hands together, pleadingly at Soma. Remaining unmoved with his arms crossed, Soma stood his ground.
"No."
"Tanabata only comes once a year. The festival is tonight, we have to go."
"I don't do festivals, Nami."
"Why not? It'll be fun to get a chance to wear a Yukata and play stand games."
"It'll be a cold day in hell before you get me in a Yukata."
"Well Hades better purchase a coat, because it's about to get chilly in hell."
*** Universe 14 ***
Down in the underworld the Death god sneezes in his room. Sensing someone was gossiping about him, he used his powers to look beyond the worlds. Seeing who it was he smiled.
"Is someone talking about you, dear?" Kore asked, gently rubbing her hands through his hair while he laid his head on her lap as they sat on the Cleopatra lounge. Turning to look up at her, he smiled.
"In another life in another world." He then grinned with a chuckle. "It would seem I will have to purchase a winter's coat, because he is wearing that Yukata."
Trying to see what her husband meant, Kore used her powers to looked beyond her world and saw what her husband was talking about. "(Giggle) He complains now, but in the end it will be worth it."
*** Back to Soma and Nami ***
"Keep dreaming, Nami." Soma replied back.
"Please... I've always wanted to go with someone to Tanabata. But I've never found the right person until now." She looked into his eyes with her honey eyes. "Please, Soma. It won't be as magical without you by my side."
"Tst, fine. Dammit, how do you make me give in like that?" Soma growled, upset by how much he was a sucker to those eyes.
"Because you have a big heart." Getting up on her tiptoes she gave him a light peck on the cheek. "Thank you Soma, it's a date then. Meet at the festival at seven, bring Rex along. I think the puppies will enjoy it. See you there, Lover boy."
And like the wind she was gone. Leaving Soma stuck in his place, cupping his now warm cheek.
"(Sigh) Now I'll have to wear that kimono again." He looked down at Rex's grinning mussel. "Heh, laugh all you want but you're stuck in this too."
Rex whined in confusion, titling his head to the side.
*** Tanabata Festival- 6:50 ***
There Soma stood, waiting for Nami outside the festival grounds near the stairs. The festival was being held in a surviving local Temple out in the Outer Ghettos. The lamps were beginning to light as the sun hit twilight and festive music played behind him. Rex sat beside him as he waited for Nami to show up.
The laughing of people enjoying themselves made Soma feel conscious of himself. He always felt that he was too exposed in his yukata and geta sandals. The juban (cotton undergarment) didn't help him much either. Soma always felt naked without his hood covering his head. In his mind Soma felt that the obi was tied too loose. He never liked wearing these traditional clothes, even if the color matched his trademark coat. He didn't like showing people this much of him, the last thing he wanted was for people to notice his eyes.
If Nami didn't show up by ten minutes pass seven he was bailing. He was only doing this for her, if anyone else asked him to go he would've just told them to go to hell. But it was an honest request from Nami so he had to go, even if hell had to freeze over.
"Soma, sorry we're late. I had to work out the bow in my obi. It's pretty hard when you do it yourself." Called out Nami as she came up the stairs. Shika beat her up to the top, stopping at her brother's side.
When Nami finally made it to the top she took Soma's breath away. She was beautiful in her white yukata with a winter cherry tree, blue highlighted snow, and random snow petals falling around as a design. Her obi was a light blue and held onto her blue fan with a white lily behind her back. Her juban barely peeked out of her yukata and she wore tabi socks along with her geta sandals.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting long, Soma." The sun shining behind her back made her hair glow, it was celestial.
"It was worth it." Soma grinned. "You look beautiful."
"T-thanks." The white she was wearing brought out her blushing even more. "Shall we go?"
"As you wish." Soma said, holding an arm out for her. Gladly taking it, they made their way into the festival grounds along with Shika and Rex.
"Ooh, it's so lovely. They must have worked so hard putting all the lamps up."
"Somebody had to do it."
"Oh, that looks like fun." Nami said pointing to one of the game stands with fish. "Come on, let's try it."
Sighing as Nami broke free from his grip, Soma followed behind with the pups loyally not too far behind. Pulling out her kinchaku (carrying bag) from her obi, she paid for two nets. Handing one to a mumbling Soma, she began trying to catch a gold fish. Being to rough with the net, Soma began to get frustrated when the fish kept barely evading him.
"Dammit, slippery little bastards."
"You'll never catch them that way." Nami said, grabbing his hand to guide him. Soma blushed as she pressed herself to his side. "You have to be patient. Wait for the fish to come to you."
Gently placing the net into the water, they waited there until the fish slowly kept coming back to the nets general area. When one of the fish got close enough, Soma went for it with Nami's guiding hand still holding on. He caught the fish, but the net broke in the end.
"Hrmm." Soma mumbled, getting grumpy.
"Well at least you still got one." Nami then went to try and catch one with her own, but the fish broke out of hers as well. Splashing her as it dived back into the water, making her giggle as she shied away. "Ah, that's cold."
"Heh, the Frost Lily, shying away from cold water?" Soma teased as he used his yukata sleeve to wipe away the droplets on her cheek. She blushed at the gentle gesture.
"Let's go see the other stands." Nami said, grabbing his hand to drag him to the next attraction.
"Whoa, Soma in broad daylight without his hood on. I thought I'd never see the sight." Kota said, approaching them from one of the souvenir stands along with Alisa. His yukata was a ocean blue and was loosely tied, exposing a good chunk of his chest.
"What are you doing here, Kota?" Soma growled at him. Slightly embarrassed at being caught at the festival.
"Oh you know, just on a date with Alisa. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to show her Japanese traditions while having a good time." Kota answered, before leaning in an elbowing Soma on the side. "But I didn't expect to see you here. I though fest weren't you're style?"
"Where I go or what I do is none of your business, Kota." Soma shot back.
"Well yeah, but I didn't expect you to be the romantic type. Or to give in so easily." Kota poked at him, trying to push his buttons. "She's got you in her grips, huh?"
"Shut up, Kota." Soma growled. "Worry about your date instead of mine."
"Ooh, so you do consider this a date. Smooth choice of location, Tiger."
"Why you!" But before Soma could go on, Nami cut in as she noticed Alisa yukata.
"Kota how could you? Why would you let Alisa get a yukata a size too small for her?" Nami accused as she observed Alisa kimono. It was red with blue sparrows taking flight as a design. But the yukata was too small as it exposed most of her chest with little cover from the juban.
"It's not my fault she lied about her measurements." Kota waved it off with shrugging shoulders.
"I didn't lie! There must have been a mistake in the customizing!" Alisa protested, covering her chest with her hands as she blushed uncontrollable.
"I don't see what the problem is, you have a great body. Why not show it off." Kota said nonchalantly to Alisa. The others stared at him in disbelief at his boldness, you could hear a crow cawing in the background.
"Behold the gaze of a pervert." Soma said to Nami while still looking at Kota. "May my eyes be damned by the sight."
"Kota, you pervert!" Alisa yelled, blushing madly as she walked off in embarrassment.
"W-wha? What did I say? It's the truth!" Kota shouted as he ran after Alisa. "Come on, Alisa?!"
They watched as the couple disappeared into crowd. That's when Nami spotted a game stand with stuffed animal prizes.
"Ooh, that would make a great toy for Shika." She said, admiring the stuff cows.
"Try your luck with A-Ring-on-a-Bottle ma'am?" Asked the Stand owner. "Get a prize depending on the amount of rings you get on a bottle."
"Alright, I'll give it a shot." Handing the man some money, he gave her three rings. She threw the first one, and it bounced off the bottle. Trying again she threw the second ring, but it went in between the bottles. A little disappointed with her performance tonight, she stuck her tongue out as she concentrated on throwing the last ring. With her throw, Nami got the last ring around a bottle. But in the end it didn't get her the plushie cow, with only one ring she was able to get a paper wind flag. "Aww, I don't know what happened. I'm usually better with my aim then this."
"Okay, my turn." Soma said, reaching into his yukata for his wallet and paying the man. With out breaking a sweat he swiftly threw all three rings and miraculously getting all of them around the bottle. Admiring his work, Soma grinned. "Heh, I win."
"Well done, sir." The man said, allowing Soma to claim his prize. Grabbing one of the stuff cows, he handed it to Nami.
"Here."
"Thank you, Soma." She said, giving him a little squeeze in appreciation. Bending down to her knees, she handed to toy to Shika. Who gladly took the toy into her mouth with a wagging tail. "Shika says thank you too."
"My, and who said Soma doesn't know how to treat a girl?" Commented Dr. Sakaki, coming their way from their left. He was wearing a indigo yukata with geta sandals and tabi socks. He was holding Shio's hand as she held onto a giant teddy bear, which Dr. Sakaki most likely won for her. Her yukata was a light green with autumn Japanese maples leaves.
"Doc." Nami greeted. "Taking Shio out to play I see. That's very sweet of you."
"I thought this was a great way for her to interact with people while having fun."
"Doc, let's go. I want to see the bright thingies." Shio asked, pulling at the Doc's sleeve.
"Haha, alright Shio. But we still have time before the fireworks. Why not look around a little more?"
"Okay!"
"Have fun with you're date, you guys." Dr. Sakaki said as he and walked off with Shio close by his side.
"We're bumping into everyone tonight." Soma commented. "I'm not surprised if we bump into Lindow and Sakuya next."
"If we do we do, let's just have some fun tonight."
"Hmph." Soma grunted as he reluctantly gave in to Nami's request.
They went from stand to stand, whether it was to try out food or to give a try at minor games. Soma was able to win Rex a red stuffed dragon at one game stand, the pup proudly showed it off to his sister. While Nami bought them snacks when they passed the other stands. Finally giving their feet a rest, they stopped at a tea shop and ordered a hot cup a tea and a plate of dangos. Handing some to the pups along with a bowl of water.
"Mmm, these are really good." Nami said with delight as she ate another dango stick. "Don't you agree Soma?"
"Hm, they're alright. But I like yours better." Soma said, taking a sip of his tea as she blushed.
"Y-you ate them?"
"Yes... they were delicious. The perfect level of sweetness."
"I didn't think you would eat them." Nami said, looking down into her cup of tea.
"You made them, of course I would eat them. I still have the bento box too."
"You're... you're really sweet sometimes Soma."
"Sometimes?" Soma teased at her with a raised eyebrow.
"But not all the time." She giggled, earning a grin from Soma. "It's getting late, let's make our wish before the river gets too crowded."
"Alright..." Soma said getting up to follow her. She went to the nearest stand and purchased a piece of bamboo with two tags of paper and a pencil. She quickly writ down her wish and attached the paper to the bamboo.
"Here Soma, write your wish." She said handing him his piece of paper and the pencil.
"Hmph, fine." Soma said, leaning on the stand to write down his wish.
"Whoa, so you actually got Soma to go to the Tanabata festival. Good for you, Nami." Lindow cheered, coming up to their stand with Sakuya by his side. He wore an indigo yukata while Sakuya wore a black one with green leaves designs and a matching green obi. Unlike Alisa, hers was a perfect fit, exposing none of her chest.
"You're here too, can't we have a moment away from you guys?"
"Aw, what's the matter Soma? We interrupting you from something?" Lindow teased.
"Damn you, shut up."
"Now, now, Soma. We don't mean to disturb your date. We just thought we'd say hello since we saw you." Sakuya said, breaking up the trouble before it started.
"Did you guys make your wishes yet?" Nami asked.
"No, not yet. We're waiting until the time gets closer to the firework launching." Sakuya answered.
"Well you better hurry, before the lines pick up."
"That's what I've been saying." Lindow seconded to Nami's suggestion. "Let's get our bamboo before the crowds start coming."
"In a moment." Sakuya replied. "I'm thirsty, lets get some tea."
"Ah fine, stubborn woman." Lindow resigned as Sakuya dragged him away. "See you around guys. Keep away from her obi, Soma."
"Shut the hell up, Lindow." Soma growled at his last teasing. Blushing at Lindow's implication.
"Never mind him, Soma. Let's go stake our spot by the river, I've had my fun."
"Yeah." Soma agreed as they headed further down the streets.
As they went further, the streets got quieter. Most of the other people were still at the stands since the fireworks wouldn't be starting soon. Finding their spot by the river, they sat on a giant boulder. Shika and Rex rested along side the boulder. Before getting on the boulder, Nami set the bamboo piece with their papers afloat down the river while Soma watched.
"There, the ceremony is complete." Nami cheered before sitting beside Soma on the boulder. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"Hmph, it was tolerable."
"That sounds like an okay to me." Nami said, giving his chest a little poke. "You know? I wished that we all would have a good year this year."
"What, with good rain for the crops? I'm surprise you didn't wish for joy to all and world peace?" Soma playfully mocked.
"That would be foolish. The only person who can control the joy of the people are the people themselves. Wishing about it would make no difference if they don't help themselves. And as corrupted beings, world peace is impossible. So I wished for something that isn't too much to ask for." Nami honestly answered before turning her head to look at him. "So what did you wish for?"
"That your wish would come true."
"!" She gasped at his answer before composing herself. "That's not how it works. You gotta wish for something for yourself."
"It is for myself." Soma said, finally turning his head to look at her as well. "Ensuring your happiness guarantees my own."
"You're a strange one sometimes, Soma. Isn't there anything else you could possibly want?"
"Something... that I want?" Soma said gently tracing his fingers along her cheek. "Maybe."
"Soma..." Slowly decreasing the space between them, they both moved in for a kiss. Pausing a centimeter away from her lips, Soma looked into her eyes to see if she really wanted this. Making the first move, Nami closed the distance between them. It felt like fire and ice joining together in a mix of sensations without one harming the other. The kiss was kept chastised but it still held fire in it that set Nami's cheeks burning. Finally breaking apart for air, they both looked into each others eyes as they caught their breath.
"So, was that bitter as well?" Soma asked, remembering her first experience with a kiss from him.
"No, it was really sweet. I could almost taste the dangos you ate on your lips."
"Great, so you're saying I should brush my teeth?"
"No, I'm saying that it was delicious." Nami corrected. Holding her arms out to him, she beckoned him to her. "Can I have another?"
Not wasting another second he leaped into her arms, wrapping his arms around her back as he rolled on top of her. The kiss was a little less restrained as he took a gentle bite at her lower lip. Oddly enough, she enjoyed the feeling. It caused her to moan, allowing entrance into her cavern as he growled in approval. His tongue explored the lands of her mouth with vigor and unchallenged authority as her tongue tried to keep up with his.
They wrestled for dominance for awhile, but he eventually emerged the victor. Making her give in to his demanding tongue, not that she minded though. She loved the feeling, she couldn't get enough of it. Trying to deepen the kiss she dug her finger into his platinum locks, pushing him closer. Groaning in pleasure, he ran his hands up and down her back getting out of her light moans. Her eyes nearly rolled back in pleasure as his magical tongue placed her in a spell.
But oxygen called as they broke apart. She whine in protest as his lips left her. Grinning Soma moved to her neck and started exploring there with his lips. But before he could go any further, the loud boom of fireworks shooting into the sky interrupted them.
"Oh, it's starting. Soma you're missing it." Nami gasped at him as he continued to kiss her neck. He lightly pushed down her yukata to expose more of her neck.
"You watch, I've got the perfect show right here." He said. Trailing his tongue along her neck, he caused her to snuffle a moan. "Don't silence it, let it out. I want to hear it."
"Soma, not here. We'll get caught." Nami protested as he started to nibble at her neck and pressed down further onto her. "Not so fast Soma, I'm not ready to go too far."
"(Sigh) I'll wait." Soma said, rolling off her as he caught his breath. He looked at her with lust filled eyes that made her heart accelerate. "I'll wait as long as it takes until you are." Then he turned to look up at the show in the sky. "Until then let's enjoy the fire works."
Still looking up to the sky, Soma reached an arm out to Nami. Inviting her to his side. Accepting his invitation, Nami crawled over to him and cuddle to his side as she looked up to the sky as well.
"Yes, let's" She agreed. Laying her hand on his chest while his arm wrapped around her shoulders. The fireworks sparkled in their eyes as the cool breezed calmed their excitement.
*** Author's Notes ***
The next chapters will have outfits from the game. I just really like the holiday, that I had to add the traditional outfits. Forgive my artist interpretation so far.